Category Archives: Bourbon County

Bourbon County, Kansas

KDOT announces approved October bids For State Highways

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The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects in Kansas. The letting took place Oct. 17 in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

Bourbon County was approved bids for highway maintenance from the Crawford/Bourbon county line north to the south U.S. 69/U.S. 54/K‑7, there will be an overlay of 16.3 miles. APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks. will be doing the work with a  $837,415.29 bid on the project.

 

District One — Northeast

 

Johnson ‑ 35‑46 KA‑4878‑01 ‑ Bridge #325 on I‑35 located 1.5 miles southwest of the Johnson county line, bridge deck, Comanche Construction Inc., Shawnee Mission, Ks., $179,909.55

 

Marshall ‑ 36‑58 KA‑5008‑01 – U.S. 36, beginning at the end of the 4-lane divided section east to the U.S. 36/K‑87 junction (excludes Marysville from 4th Street to 20th Street), milling and overlay, 18.4 miles, Hall Brothers Inc., Marysville, Ks., $2,345,467.50.

 

Riley ‑ 18‑81 KA‑4325‑01 ‑ K‑18, bridges #056 and #057 located 6.9 miles north of the K‑57/K‑18 junction, bridge repair, Louis-Company LLC, Lees Summit, Mo., $216,950.00.

 

District Two — North Central

 

Cloud ‑ 15 C‑4875‑01 – Bridge over West Creek, located on Republic Road located 1.0 mile west and 1.5 miles north of Hollis, bridge replacement, 0.2 mile, L & M Contractors Inc., Great Bend, Ks., $363,909.15.

 

Geary ‑ 70‑31 KA‑5143‑01 ‑ Pavement marking on I‑70, pavement marking, 26.5 miles, Innovative Marking Systems Inc., Bluffdale, Ut., $659,183.71.

 

Marion ‑ 168‑57 KA‑5064‑01 ‑ K‑168, from the U.S. 56/K‑168 junction north to the south city limits of Lehigh, milling and overlay, 0.5 mile, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $82,706.71.

 

Marion ‑ 56‑57 KA‑5070‑01 – U.S. 56, from 0.15 mile south of the U.S. 56/340th Street intersection north to 264 feet south of the Marion/Dickinson county line, concrete pavement, 3.1 miles, Emery Sapp & Sons Inc And Subsidiaries, Columbia, Mo., $3,883,355.95.

 

Marion ‑ 56‑57 KA‑5142‑01 ‑ Pavement marking on U.S. 56, pavement marking, 14.1 miles, Cillessen And Sons Inc., Kechi, Ks., $151,262.60.

 

McPherson ‑ 61‑59 KA‑5030‑01 ‑ K‑61, from the junction of the concrete pavement and asphalt pavement west of the south K‑153/K‑61 junction east to the K‑61/U.S. 81B junction, ultra thin bonded asphalt surfacing, 0.4 mile, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $86,834.53.

 

McPherson ‑ 81B1‑59 KA‑5031‑01 ‑ US‑81B, from the K‑61/U.S. 81B junction north to the U.S. 81B/I‑135 junction, ultra thin bonded asphalt surfacing, 2.6 miles, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $613,831.55.

 

McPherson – 81B1‑59 KA‑5032‑01 – U.S. 81B, from the K‑61/U.S. 81B junction north to the south city limits of McPherson, milling and overlay, 1.4 miles, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $143,992.96.

 

McPherson – 153S‑59 KA‑5062‑01 ‑ K‑153 Spur, from the K‑153S/K‑61 junction north to the north K‑153S/K‑153 junction, milling and overlay, 1.1 miles, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $141,493.14.

 

McPherson ‑ 260‑59 KA‑5063‑01 ‑ K‑260, from the south I‑135/K‑260 junction west to the north to the north I‑135/K‑260 junction, milling and overlay, 3.6 miles, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $347,245.60.

 

McPherson ‑ 153‑59 KA‑5065‑01 ‑ K‑153, from the K‑153/K‑61 north to the south city limits of McPherson, milling and overlay, 1.9 miles, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $232,264.10.

 

McPherson ‑ 56‑59 KA‑5066‑01 ‑ U.S. 56, from the U.S. 56/RS 319 junction east to the McPherson/Marion county line, milling and overlay, 13.1 miles, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $1,944,154.46.

 

Morris ‑ 56‑64 KA‑5101‑01 ‑ U.S. 56, from the east city limits of Council Grove east to 50 feet east of the Morris/Lyon county line, sealing, 6.5 miles, Circle C Paving and Construction LLC, Goddard, Ks., $211,267.91.

 

District Three — Northwest

 

Decatur ‑ 83‑20 KA‑4981‑01 ‑ U.S. 83, from approximately 148 feet north of the U.S. 36/U.S. 83 junction (north end of the Portland Cement Concrete Pavement at the U.S. 36/U.S. 83 junction) north 12.4 miles to the Kansas/Nebraska state line, recycle and overlay, 12.4 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $2,539,965.73.

 

Graham ‑ 24‑33 KA‑5018‑01 ‑ U.S. 24, from the Sheridan/Graham county line east to the east city limits of Hill City, sealing, 17.5 miles, Heft and Sons LLC, Greensburg, Ks., $618,791.40.

 

Graham ‑ 84‑33 KA‑5019‑01 ‑ K‑84, along the entire route, sealing, 0.9 mile, Heft and Sons LLC, Greensburg, Ks., $24,200.50.

 

Graham ‑ 85‑33 KA‑5020‑01 ‑ K‑85, along entire route, sealing, 0.8 mile, Heft and Sons LLC, Greensburg, Ks., $21,943.80.

 

Graham ‑ 18‑33 KA‑5024‑01 ‑ K‑18, from the U.S. 24/K‑18 junction southeast to the Rooks/Graham county line, milling and overlay, 6.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $739,627.68.

 

Rooks ‑ 183‑82 KA‑5021‑01 – U.S. 183, from 12th Street in Stockton north to the Rooks/Phillips county line, milling and overlay, 10.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $1,076,946.99.

 

Rooks ‑ 18‑82 KA‑5025‑01 ‑ K‑18, from the Rooks/Graham county line east to the U.S. 183/K‑18 junction, milling and overlay, 21.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $1,820,478.38.

 

Rooks ‑ 183‑82 KA‑5081‑01 ‑ U.S. 183, from the south city limits of Plainville north to County Road S, overlay, 5.7 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $619,727.13.

 

Rooks ‑ 18‑82 M‑0062‑01 ‑ K‑18, from the Rooks/Graham county line east to the U.S. 183/K‑18 junction, stockpile bituminous material, 21.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $5,200.00.

 

Thomas ‑ 70‑97 KA‑5120‑01 ‑ I‑70, from 0.473 mile west of K‑25 east to 0.377 mile east of Exit 62, milling and overlay, 9.8 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $5,431,048.91.

 

Thomas ‑ 70‑97 M‑0066‑01 ‑ I‑70, from 0.5 mile west of the I-70/K‑25 junction east to 0.4 mile east of Exit 62, stockpile bituminous material, 9.8 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $5,500.00.

 

Trego ‑ 70‑98 KA‑5121‑01 ‑ I‑70, from the Gove/Trego county line east to the west edge of the wearing surface at Exit 127, milling and overlay, 14.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $5,673,914.20.

 

District Four — Southeast

 

Bourbon ‑ 07‑6 KA‑5067‑01 ‑ K‑7, from the Crawford/Bourbon county line north to the south U.S. 69/U.S. 54/K‑7, overlay, 16.3 miles, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $837,415.29.

 

Cherokee ‑ 11 C‑4882‑01 ‑ Bridge over Center Creek on SW 100th Street, located 0.4 mile north of Faulkner, bridge replacement, 0.1 mile, Mission Construction Co. Inc., St Paul, Ks., $298,044.00.

 

Crawford ‑ 07‑19 KA‑5068‑01 ‑ K‑7, from the north city limits of Girard north to the Crawford/Bourbon county line, overlay, 11.0 miles, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $693,962.80.

 

Wilson ‑ 400‑103 KA‑5048‑01 ‑ U.S. 400, Wilson/Greenwood county line east to the K‑47 junction, pavement patching, 12.0 miles, R A Knapp Construction Inc., Lenexa, Ks., $1,044,373.58.

 

District Five — South Central

 

Cowley ‑ 166‑18 KA‑3106‑01 ‑ U.S. 166, Bridge #037 (over Arkansas River) on U.S. 166, located 4.9 miles east of the Cowley/Sumner county line, bridge replacement, A M Cohron & Son Inc., Atlantic, Ia., $6,368,389.77.

 

Harper ‑ 39 C‑4886‑01 ‑ Bridge over Spring Creek on Southwest 10th Road, located 1.0 mile south and 0.8 mile west of Anthony, bridge replacement, 0.2 mile, L & M Contractors Inc., Great Bend, Ks., $508,956.00.

 

Harper ‑ 179‑39 KA‑5049‑01 ‑ K‑179, from the Oklahoma/Kansas state line north to the south city limits of Anthony, milling and overlay, 11.1 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $988,669.50.

 

Harper ‑ 14‑39 KA‑5071‑01 ‑ K‑14, from the U.S. 160/K‑14 junction beginning at the west city limits of Harper north to the Kingman/Harper county line, milling     and overlay, 7.5 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $772,619.30.

 

Kingman ‑ 14‑48 KA‑5072‑01 ‑ K‑14, from the Kingman/Harper county line north to the K‑42/K‑14 junction, milling and overlay, 5.1 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $481,389.04.

 

Reno ‑ 61‑78 KA‑5033‑01 ‑ K‑61, beginning approximately 502 feet south of bridge #148 east to the west U.S. 50/K‑61 junction, milling and overlay, 9.2 miles, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Ks., $1,734,694.28.

 

Sedgwick ‑ 235‑87 KA‑4954‑01 ‑ I-235, Overhead Sign Truss (Serial # 087S0254) on southbound I‑235 located between East Mac Arthur Road and South Broadway Avenue in Wichita, signing, Collins & Hermann Inc., Saint Louis, Mo., $117,328.18.

 

Sedgwick ‑ 15‑87 KA‑5144‑01 ‑ K-15, pavement marking on K‑15, pavement marking, 5.5 miles, Roadsafe Traffic Systems Inc., El Dorado, Ks., $256,734.83

 

Sumner ‑ 81‑96 KA‑4530‑02 ‑ U.S. 81, west bank of the Ninnescah River, adjacent to U.S. 81 located 1.4 miles north of the U.S. 81/K‑55 junction, special maintenance. Dondlinger & Sons Construction Co. Inc., Wichita, Ks., $879,046.25.

 

Sumner ‑ 81‑96 KA‑5069‑01 ‑ U.S. 81, from the Oklahoma/ Kansas state line north to mile marker 25 located approximately 2.5 miles north of RS-645, milling and overlay, 25.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $2,719,559.00.

 

District Six — Southwest

 

Finney ‑ 50‑28 KA‑5050‑01 ‑ U.S. 50, from the Finney/Kearny county line east approximately 4.9 miles, milling and overlay, 4.9 miles, Shilling Construction Co. Inc., Manhattan, Ks., $718,941.25.

 

Ford ‑ 283‑29 KA‑5051‑01 ‑ U.S. 283, from the U.S. 283/U.S. 50 junction north to the Hodgeman/Ford county line, milling and overlay, 9.4 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $1,509,191.09.

 

Ford ‑ 50‑29 KA‑5053‑01 ‑ U.S. 50, beginning at the end of the concrete just east of the west U.S. 56/U.S. 50/U.S. 283 junction east approximately 12.7 miles to existing header just east of Spearville, milling and overlay, 12.7 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Ks., $2,599,043.00.

 

Haskell ‑ 190‑41 KA‑5135‑01 ‑ K‑190, from the east city limits of Satanta east to the Haskell/Seward county line, heater scarification (no overlay), 3.8 miles, Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka, Ks., $287,446.94.

 

Seward ‑ 190‑88 KA‑5134‑01 ‑ K‑190, from the Haskell/Seward county line east to the U.S. 83/K‑190 junction, heater scarification (no overlay), 7.0 miles, Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka, Ks., $532,243.38.

Bourbon County, Elections, Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Carolyn Tucker

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To Drink or Not to Drink

by Carolyn A. Tucker

Drinking alcohol is like playing Russian roulette. Sometimes you get by and sometimes you die. Everybody has their opinion about consuming alcoholic beverages, so we should see what God says about it.

“Wine has robbed my people of their understanding” (Hosea 4:11 NLT). That’s plain and simple, no commentary needed.

God was speaking in the Old Testament and said, “I chose some of your sons to be prophets and others to be Nazirites. Can you deny this, my people of Israel?” asks the Lord. “But you caused the Nazirites to sin by making them drink wine, and you commanded the prophets, ’Shut up!’” (Amos 2:11,12 NLT).

In the Bible, the Nazirites were set apart for God’s use and were not to drink wine. Today, Christians should desire to be sanctified (set apart) and dedicated to doing God’s work.

In another scripture, God says, “Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, ‘I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!’ That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!” (Micah 2:11 NLT). That’s plain and simple, no commentary needed.

Now we should see what life says about drinking alcohol. My mother had twelve brothers and two of them had miserable lives as alcoholics. The obituary for H.R.J. stated “he departed this life following a long illness.” After brother E.A.J.’s death, his wife wrote in a letter to a family member, “I sympathize with drinkers. If Elmer had only realized how hard he made it on his girls he would have quit. I’m sure.” The autopsy report revealed that he died of pneumonia and cirrhosis of the liver.

Drinking alcohol is like playing Russian roulette. Sometimes you get by and sometimes you die. It isn’t worth the risk. Perhaps you say, “I can handle it.” But what about your children and grandchildren that you influence…can they handle it?

Bourbon County

Clothing and Food Resources For Those In Need

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Feeding Families In His Name, a  free community dinner at First United Methodist Church,  is each Wednesday evening. Pictured is FUMC, located at Third and National Street. Courtesy photo.

The Bourbon County United Methodist Parish churches have been gathering coats and blankets to give away to those who need them.

West Liberty UMC led the drive and used Feeding Families In His Name as the distribution site for two weeks, according to Jean Tucker, coordinator for FFIHN. Linda Deere was the contact person for the drive.

“The Beacon brought us their donated coats and blankets, also,” Tucker said.

The Beacon, located at 525 E. 6th, Fort Scott.

” We helped them (Feeding Families In His Name) with a lot of coats,” Carol MacArthur, president of the Beacon Board, said.

The remaining coats, all adult sizes, have been donated to Gallilee Thrift Store, 605 S. National Avenue, for them to distribute for free to those who need coats.

The Beacon, a local helping agency, recently stopped taking donations of clothing and household goods, as of Oct. 31.

The Galilee Thrift Store, on National Avenue, south of Pete’s Conoco Convenience Store.

“Jane Lifer (owner of Galilee Thrift Store) said she would give them out and not sell them,” Tucker said. “Most are adult sizes 14,16,18.”
Children’s clothes were left in front of the Galilee Thrift Store to give away on Friday.

Additionally, Mother to Mother Ministry, 728 S. Heylman, has clothing to give away.

Food To Those In Need

Each Wednesday evening at the First United Methodist Church, located at Third and National Avenue,  a free community meal is served from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Entry to the church basement kitchen is on the Third Street side of the building.

This FFIHN ministry has been doing this since 2011 and feeds between 125-130 people a week.

“We allow seconds and to-go meals,” Tucker said. “Anybody and everybody is welcome.”

The Beacon provides food in the form of groceries to their clients and will continue to do so.

In addition, The Beacon helps in other ways.

 “We do feed families, and we do help them with funding for prescriptions, rent, and utilities,” MacArthur said.

 

Bourbon County

American Legion Post 25 Happenings

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Post 25 is collecting gently used jackets and coats for the Fort Scott High School Seniors.

Bring coats and jackets to the membership meeting on Monday, November 5, to Memorial Hall on Tuesday, November 6 during Commander’s office hours or call the Commander at 620-215-1688 to arrange local pickup.

Coats and jackets may also be taken to Fort Scott High School offices.

 

November 5. Post 25 general membership meet and greet. Light refreshments will be available. Starts at 6:30 pm.

November 5. Post 25 general membership meeting. Starts at 7 pm. The meeting is held at the Memorial Hall at National and 3rd in downtown Fort Scott. All Post 25 members, eligible Veterans and guests are invited to attend the meeting. Light refreshments will be available at the end of the meeting.

 

November 6. Tuesday. American Legion Post 25 Commander Carl Jowers has office hours at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Carl is available to discuss any suggestions or concerns you may have about Post 25, Veterans issues in general or just to help solve world problems. Carl will meet with you at other times by emailing him at [email protected] or calling him at 620-215-1688 to schedule an appointment.

 

November 6. Tuesday. American Legion Service Officer Myra Jowers is at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Myra is available to assist you with questions about your VA claims or paperwork. This free service is for ANY Veteran or family member who may have questions about starting a VA claim or have questions about next steps. Please share this information with any Veteran you may know who might need assistance in dealing with their VA paperwork.

 

November 9 – 11. Veterans weekend in Fort Scott.

November 9. Friday evening, 5pm:  Reception @ Boiler Room Brewhaus, 2 S. National Ave.

November 9. Saturday, 10am:  Veterans Day Program @ Memorial Hall, 1 E. 3rd St.

November 10. Saturday.  Veteran Service Representatives (VSRs)  from the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs  will be at Memorial hall beginning at 10 am to assist veterans and their families with applying for benefits. This service is free of charge.

November 10. Saturday, 12 – 4 PM. “A Gathering of Veterans” Hospitality Room at VFW Post 1165 for fellowship and camaraderie. The Hospitality Room is sponsored by American Legion Post 25.

November 10. Saturday, 5 pm:  Veterans Day Parade in Downtown Fort Scott.  All Veterans are encouraged to participate. Transportation will be available for those unable to walk in the parade.

November 10. Saturday, 7pm:  1800’s Grand Ball @ Memorial Hall, 1 E. 3rd St.

November 11. Sunday, 9am:  Veterans Church Service @ Community Christian Church, 1919 S. Horton S

November 11. Sunday, 11am:  Veterans Day Service @ US National Cemetery No. 1, 900 E. National Ave.

November 11. Sunday, 12pm:  Lunch @ VFW, 1745 S. National Ave.

November 13. Tuesday. American Legion Post 25 Commander Carl Jowers has office hours at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Carl is available to discuss any suggestions or concerns you may have about Post 25, Veterans issues in general or just to help solve world problems. Carl will meet with you at other times by emailing him at [email protected] or calling him at 620-215-1688 to schedule an appointment.

 

November 13. Tuesday. American Legion Service Officer Myra Jowers is at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Myra is available to assist you with questions about your VA claims or paperwork. This free service is for ANY Veteran or family member who may have questions about starting a VA claim or have questions about next steps. Please share this information with any Veteran you may know who might need assistance in dealing with their VA paperwork.

 

Post 25 is collecting gently used jackets and coats for the Fort Scott High School Seniors. Bring coats and jackets to the membership meeting on Monday, November 5, to Memorial Hall on Tuesday, November 6 during Commander’s office hours or call the Commander at 620-215-1688 to arrange local pickup. Coats and jackets may also be taken to Fort Scott High School offices.

 

 

 

 

Carl Jowers, Commander

Fort Scott American Legion Post 25

 

Bourbon County, Schools

Brillhart Makes the Top 16 at Nationals

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After winning the Kansas FFA Creed Speaking competition in May, Uniontown FFA Member Clay Brillhart was set to represent the state of Kansas at the National FFA Creed Speaking Contest in Indianapolis, Indiana. On October 25th, Brillhart competed against 46 other contests from across the United States.
In the preliminary round, Brillhart competed against six other speakers with hopes of being one of the two to advance to the semi-final round. After presenting the Creed and answering questions related to the Creed and agriculture, Brillhart was selected to advance. The semi-final round featured the top 16 Creed Speakers from across the country. From the top 16, four speakers advanced to the final round. Brillhart did not advanced, but was recognized that evening at the awards banquet for finishing in the top 16 speakers in the nation and earning a Silver Emblem.
Clay Brillhart is the son of Mark and Diane Brillhart of Hiattville. His FFA Advisor is Scott Sutton.
Bourbon County, Schools

Uniontown FFA Places at National Meats Contest

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The Uniontown FFA Meats Evaluation team competed at the National FFA Meats Evaluation contest held on October 25th, 2018 on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The team from Uniontown qualified for the event by winning the Kansas FFA Meats Evaluation contest this past May. Each state sends their top placing team to compete at the national contest.

The team finished 6th out of 42 teams from across the US. All three members of the team, Haydon Schaaf, Nick Hathaway and Gavin Fry, finished in the Gold Emblem division of individuals, which is the top 30% of the 126 members that competed. Haydon Schaaf led the way with a 9th place individual finish. Nick Hathaway was one of four contestants in the entire contest to earn a perfect retail cut identification score. Texas, North Dakota, Washington, Oklahoma and Missouri were the five teams to finish ahead of Kansas(Uniontown).

FFA members who compete in the contest must place six primal and/or carcass classes, quality and yield grade four beef carcasses, answer ten questions over two of the primal/carcass classes, identify 30 retail beef, pork and lamb cuts, complete a team activity testing their knowledge over muscles, bones, value-based pricing and meat formulation and take a 50 question test over their knowledge of meat science.

Haydon Schaaf and Nick Hathaway are seniors at Uniontown High School while Gavin Fry is a freshman at Kansas State University. The team is coached by Uniontown FFA Advisor Scott Sutton.

 

Bourbon County

Grief Support Lunch Nov.7

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The next scheduled grief support luncheon will be Wednesday November 7th, at noon. 

Anyone dealing with a loss is encouraged to come and bring a friend.

  Rev. Leon Weece will be speaking. 

Cheney Witt Chapel will provide lunch at the Carriage House, 301 S. Main. 

Call us at 223-1186 if you have any questions.  We look forward to seeing you!

Bourbon County, Schools

A New Bourbon County School: St. Martin’s Academy

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One of the St. Martin’s Academy boys rappeling at Looking Glass Arch, near Moab, Utah. Courtesy photo.

St. Martin’s Academy,  a new Catholic boys boarding school started its inaugural school term in Moab, Utah in September.

The staff and students spent six days canoeing, technical rock climbing and exploring, during the first days of the school year.

” It was a time of intense bonding and camaraderie, and life-long friendships were born,” Daniel Kerr, founder of the school said in a newsletter.

St. Martins’ Academy, Oct. 2018, is still in the construction stage.

The school campus is still under construction, with a tentative completion date for the first building, Theotokos Hall,  by late spring 2019, according to Patrick Whelan, headmaster of the academy.

Meanwhile the students/faculty are staying in the Levine House on South National until the facility is complete.

“We have 18 students this year, eight freshmen and ten sophomores,” Whelan said. “We have students from all over the country including Virginia, Georgia, Texas, California, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, etc.”
” We have a relatively large staff (12) due to the 24 hours per day supervision requirements,” Whelan said. ” We have four residential staff that we call House Fathers. They live in the same building as the students and are responsible for supervising all daily activities.”
“St. Martin’s is unique in that it is neither a prep school for the socio-economic elite nor is it a reform school for young men with behavioral problems,” Kerr noted in a recent newsletter.
The platform-tent at Camp Kapaun on the campus of St. Martin’s Academy, located on Indian Road, serves as a classroom each morning for Natural History, Liturgy, Ancient History and Latin lessons. Courtesy photo.
Courtesy photo.  Coach Simon Webster said many of the St.Martin’s Academy freshmen and sophomore boys had never played soccer. The school ended with a winning record and had competed against varsity level teams.
Courtesy photo. Two St. Martin’s students take a turn milking Sweet Molly Brown, a Jersey cow. St. Martin’s Academy students participate in daily chores. The first two weeks of work, students butchered rabbits, castrated hogs, bucked two fields of alfalfa hay and milked cows.
These are the faculty and staff of the school:
Chris DeCleen age 24 is from Indiana and earned a degree in philosophy from Ave Maria University in 2017. He teaches Freshman History.
Joseph Free, age 23, is from Massachusetts and earned a degree in the Humanities and Liberal Studies from Ave Maria University in 2018. He teaches music and is assistant rugby coach.
Joshua Mincio, 20, is from California and interned at a monastery in Oklahoma before joining us this fall. He teaches advanced Latin.
Simon Webster, 20, is from Texas and comes from the University of Houston Business College. Simon is the head soccer and rugby coach and athletic director.
Faculty:
Travis Dziad and his wife Margi come from Ave Maria University where Travis is ABD in a Ph.D. in Theology. He serves as the Residential Dean and teaches Algebra and History.
Daniel Kerr is from Fort Scott and is the owner and co-founder of Adjuster Pro. Dan is the president and co-founder of St. Martin’s Academy; he leads development efforts and teaches Natural History.
Kenneth Klassen is from Fort Scott. He holds a Ph.D. in literature from the University of Kansas and has taught a variety of subjects for over 30 years. He teaches Literature and Geometry.
Ronald Klassen is from Fort Scott, holds a Masters degree in Classics, and has taught in public and private schools for over 30 years. He is the head Latin teacher.
Sebastion Macik and his wife Erin come from Dallas, TX where Seb taught and served as an EMT. He is the chef.
Fr. Bob McElwee is from Pittsburg, KS holds several Masters degrees and is a retired priest in the diocese of Wichita. Fr. McElwee is the Chaplain and teaches all Religion classes at the academy.
Michael Taylor and his wife, Jenna, recently moved to Fort Scott from Mound City, KS. Mike has worked as a hunting guide in Alaska and in various dairies for over a decade. Mike is the Farm Foreman and teaches leather-working and pottery.
Patrick Whalen and his wife, Kristi, moved to Fort Scott last year from St. Louis. Patrick is the headmaster and co-founder of the academy. He is a Marine veteran, a reserve officer in the Marines, and a Ph.D. candidate at Washington University in St. Louis. Whelan teaches literature at the academy.

Whelan provided the following information about the school:

The curriculum taught at the academy for freshmen: Mythos, Greek Literature, Roman Literature, Pre-History to the Hebrews, Greek Civilization, Roman Civilization, Basic Catechism (The Problem of Evil), Natural History, Algebra 1/Applied Mathematics, Latin 1.
The curriculum for sophomores: Rome and the Incarnation, Medieval Literature 1 and 2, Roman Empire to Late Antiquity, Early Middle Ages, High Middle Ages, The Liturgy, Earth Science, Biology, Geometry/Euclidean Geometry, Latin Advanced.
” In addition to their academics, the boys play soccer in the fall and rugby in the spring,” Whelan said. ” We are currently engaged in the FORT (Functional Outdoor Resilience Training) program which is an outdoorsmanship, fitness, and leadership development program we designed.  In their free time, the boys learn folk music, juggle, and enjoy the parks and trails around Fort Scott.”
“All students participate in athletics and a series of Practica that include Leatherworking, Pottery, Drawing, Painting, Cartography, and Gregorian Chant,” according to Whelan.
 School is in session from Sept 3 to May 25.

 

Bourbon County, Entertainment

Veterans Grand Ball Nov. 10

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The Friends of Fort Scott NHS are once again hosting an 1800s Grand Ball on Saturday, November 10, 2018, as part of the citywide Veterans Day Weekend in Fort Scott.

We will honor all veterans and current military personnel as well as remember the WW1 armistice signed on November 11, 1918.

Veterans and military personnel, along with their escorts, will be leading off the Grand March to begin our evening of 1800’s period dancing and music.

We would like to encourage everyone attending the Veterans Day Weekend activities to come and participate in the 1800s Grand Ball, and likewise, we encourage anyone attending the 1800s Grand Ball to take part in the other activities offered during the weekend in Fort Scott.

All funds raised at the Grand Ball will go to support the activities of the Friends of Fort Scott NHS.

The Friends provide support to the national historic site in a variety of ways, such as assisting with educational activities and programs for all ages as well as providing refreshments for special events.

Submitted by Dee Young

For more information contact Dee Young at 913.557.1632 (home),  913.269.1632 (cell),[email protected]

Bourbon County, Schools

St. Martin’s Academy Quarterly Public Faculty Lectures

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Patrick Whelan
St. Martin’s Academy will present a quarterly public faculty lecture on Friday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Boiler Room Brewhaus, located at National and Wall Street.
“We’re planning the lecture on Friday the 9th to kick off Veterans Day weekend and the feast of St. Martin of Tours on the 11th, our patron saint,” Patrick Whelan, headmaster at the boy’s Catholic school, said. ” I will be the one giving the lecture, and the title of the talk is ‘Warfare in Epic Poetry.'”
“I’m a Marine veteran and still serve as an officer in the Marine Reserves in addition to pursuing my Ph.D. in combat trauma in literature,” he said.
The event will start with a mixer /cocktail hour at 7:30 p.m.  The presentation will begin at 8:30 p.m. and with time for questions, will run until 9:30 p.m.
“Then folks are free to hangout and talk until the pub closes (at 10 p.m.),” Whelan said.  “This is open to anyone who is interested in hearing the talk.  Our students will be present so we ask that folks be respectful.”
 ” St. Martin’s Academy does these in order to share the intellectual work and interests of the Academy with the local community, family, and friends,” he said.